The long expected European ban on lead in electrical and electronic equipment will come into force on 1st July 2006, nearly 2 years earlier than the date proposed in the original draft of the legislation.
In addition to lead, the use of mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium and two types of brominated flame retardants, PBB and PBDE will be phased out by 1st July 2006.
The official text of the legislation on the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RHS) proposals will not be confirmed until the documents are finally published later this year or early in 2003.
SOLDERTEC, part of the materials division of Tin Technology, a company that specialises in research and development into tin-based applications has warned that while legislation will not enforce the ban of lead until 2006, it also applies to products on sale after that date, not just to equipment being produced.
"If the timescales are taken into account for the entire supply chain, including component and equipment stocks, it is clear that action should be taken immediately", said Kay Nimmo, research director at SOLDERTEC.
"2006 may seem a long way away, but 3 years is a limited time to prepare for lead-free. The electronics industry must not bury its head in the sand, particularly now the EU has practically confirmed the date of implementation."
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